The Grotto tomato variety was developed by Russian breeders in 1994. It is characterized by its compact size, the height of the bush does not exceed 40 cm. Thanks to this, it can easily be grown on the balcony, which allows it to be planted by city residents who do not have their own summer cottage. The volume of the plant is also small, the branches and leaves are oversized.
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The Grotto tomato is intended for growing in open ground, however, nothing prevents it from being planted in greenhouses and greenhouses. Those who planted this variety say that there it will bear fruit even earlier, and the fruiting period will last until September-October, depending on the region.The variety is considered early ripening; harvesting can begin after 110–120 days, counting from sowing the seeds.
No special care is required; due to the low height of the bushes, they do not need staking.
The flowers are simple, small, the stalk has an articulation. The first inflorescence is formed over the 6-7 leaves, then the rest follow in a chaotic order.
The description of the fruit is as follows: tomatoes have a round or oval shape, a smooth surface, and a bright red color. An unripe tomato is green in color; darkening can be detected at the stalk. Their weight is approximately 50 grams, the yield per meter of area is from 3.5 to 5 kg. The taste of tomatoes is sweet and sour, the taste is good. The variety is universal, suitable for pickling, fresh consumption, making salads or juice. The fruits tend to ripen after picking. But they also ripen quietly on the bush.
This variety is susceptible to the following diseases:
- late blight;
- septoria;
- macrosporism;
- black bacterial spot;
- slight formation of rot.
This characteristic inspires confidence and a desire to try growing this tomato variety in your garden.
Care
Gardeners grew this tomato both in open ground and in greenhouses. A characteristic feature of the Grotto is considered to be limited growth. After the first fruits appear, the stem stops growing, and all the plant’s energy is directed to feeding the fruits. The variety forms 5–7 fruiting branches.
To ensure that the harvest does not disappoint, it is necessary to properly care for the plant. Care includes the following activities:
- Pruning - it is necessary to rid the bush of excess shoots, they do not produce fruit, but take away nutrients.Overloading the plant with useless branches will slow down the growth of tomatoes.
- Garter - despite its small growth, the plant still needs a procedure; tying the stem ensures its stability, so that the fruits will be suspended without touching the ground.
Due to the rapid ripening of the Grotto tomato variety, it is suitable even for cultivation in the northern regions.
Low-growing varieties do not plant immediately in the ground; it is necessary to sow seedlings, otherwise the growth of the plant will slow down, and the harvest can only be harvested at the end of summer. It is recommended to sow in March, it is at this time that the bush begins to grow intensively, since the sun illuminates them longer. The formation of the first clusters can be seen in late April - early May.
Before planting, tomatoes need to be hardened off so that they can quickly adapt to their new location. Already with the appearance of the first shoots, the temperature should be reduced to 16–18 degrees. The room must be ventilated, and from the end of May you can take them outside for the whole day.
In addition, seedlings need to be fed with special products, which can be found in specialized stores. Soil moisture should be moderate; too much water will rot the plant's roots.
The soil must be loosened periodically, and if the stem has become very elongated, it can be hilled to make it more stable.
Reviews
Reviews from summer residents about this variety are positive; many say that with proper care it gives high yields, and fruiting lasts from June until the end of the season.
Marina: I planted Grotto for the first time last year, I rated the taste of the tomato at 4, there was more sourness than sugar, I was pleased with the yield, I collected about 10 kg from a small plot.
